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(NoMod'eL) J. F. SIMMANGB. COIN PREED APPARATUS FOR-FLUID METERS.

No. 572,913. Patented Dec. 8, 1896.

Z A D UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE JOHN F. SIMMANCE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE IVRIGHTS GAS METER SYNDICATE, LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE.

COIN-FREED APPARATUS FOR FLUID-METERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,913, dated December 8, 1896.

Application filed August 8, 1896.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN FREDERICK SIM- MANCE, a citizen of England, residing at 223 The Grove, Hammersmith, London, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and useful Coin-Freed Apparatus for Fluid-Meters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus applicable to a gas or other fluid meter so arranged that by the introduction of a coin the meter is started into action and goes on delivering a quantity of fluid equivalent to the value of the coin, and then stops, the coin being discharged into a receptacle during the action.

I shall describe apparatus according to my invention as applied to a gas-meter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front and Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is a plan, partly sectional, 011 the line X X of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a part vertical section on the line YY of Fig. 3.

A is a stop-valve in the passage by which gas enters or leaves the meter. The stem of this valve has a head B with an inclined face, this head being urged by aspring O in a direction to close the valve A. The head B passes through a lateral notch at the bottom of a cylinder D, having at its side a horizontal slot E, by which a coin can be introduced under a hollow plunger F,which is kept up by a spring G, but which can be pushed down by hand applied to a pin H, projecting through a vertical slot of the cylinder. K is a spindle which is caused to revolve by suitable gearing connecting it to the countergear of the meter, the connecting-gear being so proportioned that during one revolution of the spindle K the meter delivers a quantity of fluid of the value of one of the coins introduced. A crank L, fixed on the spindle K, is engaged in the slot of a rocking arm M, the upper end of which has a hole engaging a pin N, projecting down from a plate P. This plate is fitted to slide between guides on a table Q and is hollowed out in front to partly fit the circumference of the introduced coin. The spring 0 is so shaped and pivoted that it is only when the plate P is in its rear position, as shown in Fig. 4, that the spring exerts Serial No. 602,181. (No model.)

against the edge of the plate P. Through the table Q, concentrically under the cylinder D, there is a hole B, through which can pass a coin smaller than that wit-h which the apparatus is arranged to be worked. The head B has at one side a projecting flange Z) with a rounded edge the same thickness as the plate P, which has a rounded slope at p.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The operator introduces a coin through the slot E into the cylinder D and pushes down the plunger F. The edge of the coin as it is forced down acts on the inclined face of the head 13 and pushes it aside in opposition to the spring 0, thus opening the valve A. The gas then gives motion to the meter and its counter-gear, which causes the spindle K to revolve, the arm M to oscillate, and the plate P to move to and fro on the table Q. As the plate P advances in the direction of the arrow it releases the spring 0, and its inclined edge 19, meeting the edge I) of the head B, pushes the head B a little farther back, so as to relieve its pressure against the edge of the coin Z. The plate P, still advancing, pushes the coinZ onward until it drops over the end of the table Q into a receptacle arranged, to receive it. The plate P now returns until it escapes the head B, which is then urged forward by the spring 0, closing the valve A, and so stopping the meter. \Vhen several coins have been introduced, as indicated at Z in Fig. 5, the lowest is dealt with as above described, and as the plate P moves back the next of the coins drops to the position which had been occupied by the lowest, holding the head B back and the valve A open, and this continues until all the coins are disposed of. hen a coin smaller than that for which the apparatus is arranged is introduced, either alone or with others, it merely drops through the hole B into it chute, which may be arranged as found convenient for discharging such coins.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the best means I know of for carrying the same into pratical effect, I claim- 1. In a coin-freed apparatus for fluid-ma ters, the combination with a cylinder having a slot for the introduction of a coin, and a spring-plunger for moving the coin in the cylinder, of a stop-valve having a sliding stem constructed with a head having an inclined face acted on by the peripheral edge of the coin when the latter is moved by the plunger, a reciprocatory plate moving in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of movement of the valve-stem and its head for sliding the coin out of the cylinder, a spring acting to close the valve, and means for reciprocating said plate, substantially as described.

2. In a coin-freed apparatus for fluid-meters, the combination with a cylinder having a slot for the introduction of a coin, and a spring-plunger for moving the coin in the cylinder, of a stop-valve having a horizontallysliding stem constructed with a head having an inclined face acted on by the peripheral edge of the coin when the latter is moved by the plunger, a horizontally-reciprocating plate moving in a plane parallel with the plane of movement of the Valve-stem and its head for sliding the coin out of the cylinder, a spring acting to close the valve and engaged with and acted upon by the said plate, and means for reciprocating the plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 27th day of July, A. D. 1896.

J. F. SIMMANCE.

\Vitn esses:

OLIVER IMRAY, J No. P. M. MILLARD. 

